ARC Review: Cast in Blood by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Blood
Author: Michelle Sagara
Series: Chronicles of Elantra (Book 19)
Publication: Hanover Square Press (April 28, 2026)

Description: DO NOT MEDDLE IN THE AFFAIRS OF BARRANI

Kaylin has been warned to steer clear of the lords of the Barrani High Court. She’d be more than happy to oblige, but it’s a bit difficult considering she lives with ten of them, all sent to the green to gain power or die. With Kaylin’s help, they finally escaped their imprisonment. But their attempts at freedom had devastating consequences—and a price that has yet to be paid.

The first warning sign is the Consort’s invitation to visit the High Halls—a Barrani invitation, which means an immediate visit.

The second sign is less subtle: Kaylin finds Nightshade’s unresponsive body. He hovers on the edge of death, beyond saving through Kaylin’s healing power. No one can explain his state, nor why she’s powerless to save him. And if she and her Barrani friends can’t figure out a way to bring him back, he’ll be lost forever.

Yet even as Kaylin struggles to keep Nightshade from death, there is deeper magic at play, a growing threat with the potential to affect the entire Barrani race. Factions are shifting, new lines are being drawn—and Nightshade’s near assassination is only the beginning. Can Kaylin uncover the nebulous forces that threaten the balance of Barrani—and their entire world—before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: The nineteenth book in the Chronicles of Elantra series is concerned with the Barrani. Kaylin would be more than happy never having to deal with the Barrani again. These immortals spend a lot of time jockeying for power and playing politics. 

However, Kaylin's mentor in the Hawks is a powerful Barrani lord and she lives with the cohort of Barrani she rescued from the Green. But most of all, she is marked by Nightshade who is a Barrani fief lord albeit an exiled one. 

Problems start with the discovery of Nightshade after an assassination attempt. With threats from a war band of Barrani, Nightshade is taken back to Kaylin's sentient house Helen. Kaylin is a healer, but she is unable to reach Nightshade. It's like he has some sort of shield around him. While working in that problem, Kaylin is summoned by the Consort who has a problem. She's the only one who is able to access the Lake of Dreams where the True Names are kept. Without the True Names, no Barrani babies will ever awaken. This information needs to be kept secret until Kaylin who also has access to the Lake of Dreams and who substitute for the Consort can find out why this is happening and fix the problem. To add complications, the Consort's problem needs to be kept secret or Barrani society will be destroyed. 

There is another Barrani that might be able to fill the Consort's role, but Yvonne is a young powerless woman under the care of a ruthless lord. Kaylin's partner Severn has some connection to her since he rescued her from the Green. Somehow, she's involved in the problem too. 

Kaylin is bombarded with all these problems and even the Arbiters at the Academia don't have answers. In fact, they add more questions. It is up to Kaylin to figure things out if the problems can be fixed. 

This is a complex, meaty fantasy filled with great worldbuilding.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.